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The
true spirit of today's rock and roll...
What
started just under 5 years ago as an alternative to the local Orange
County and Los Angeles music scenes has grown into a international enterprise
of influential music and ambition. Devil Doll Records was founded in
October of 1996 by John Geldbach when the demise of Lethal Records (a
label he was working with at the time) was inevitable. He set in motion
his ambition to create an alternative record label that developed and
supported its artists and released quality music any discerning music
fan could count on.
The
initial debut release was a twenty-five band compilation entitled Pogo,
Strut, Slam, Swivel and Mosh, which was hailed as not only the best
various artists release of that year, but one so good that it had been
compared to great compilations of the hey-days of punk rock. It included
such heavy-hitters as Youth Brigade, JFA, NoFX and Lagwagon, as well
as newcomers (at that time) like Zeke, Screw 32, Swingin’ Utters
and 16. Following the release of PSSS&M were records by Field Day
and One Hit Wonder that were actually intended for release on Lethal,
which was now completely defunct. It was shortly thereafter that, through
his vast networking and solid reputation that Geldbach began releasing
titles from harder edged artists and soon dropped the "pop"
from his punk. His intent was to release the best punk rock n’
roll records available and that he did. Devil Doll was the debut U.S.
label for such artists as Gluecifer, Toilet Boys and Guy Smiley.
Devil
Doll has remained true to its start-up mentality and has quickly become
a label that a vast number of artists have chosen to work with. This
can be seen in the label’s extremely popular Rock N’ Roll
Au Go Go volumes. A continuing series focused on the world’s best
punk rock and roll bands, neatly packaged with high quality artwork
and beautifully photographed adult models by the Queen of B-movies,
Penthouse Pet Julie Strain. With Devil Doll developing a trusted name
for itself and releasing widely regarded albums, it has become successful
in meeting genre-specific niche markets that the major labels fail to
recognize. It has also been equally rewarding to Geldbach because he
has been able to sign and record bands that might not normally have
a chance at commercial success. This is because Geldbach has no company
shareholders, investors to influence his decision making process. Devil
Doll is the sole-proprietorship of Geldbach.
In
October of 1997, because of his successful stints working for such legendary
labels as SST and BYO, Geldbach was asked to head up the New Zealand
punk rock label Onefoot Records . Geldbach took this opportunity to
try and build the company into a reputable home for punk rock and hard-core
artists. Now, 2001, he has done just that. Onefoot now house’s
releases from Electric Frankenstein, Jakkpot, L.E.S. Stitches, Horace
Pinker and the debut from the Texas based super-heroes At The Drive
In. It’s also in this year that has seen Devil Doll absorbing Onefoot
Records as a new subsidiary and permanent home within its ever-growing
catalog and enterprises.
Back
tracking just a little - because Devil Doll is located in Southern California,
it has had to accept the painful realitiy of the new punk rock scene.
It was at this time that Geldbach decided to start a new imprint label
devoted exclusively to extreme music. That label started in November
of 2000 with the release of the triple CD threat entitled Doomed and
is named This Dark Reign Recordings. Not only has Southern California
been known for punk rock, but it is also the home to some of the best
death, grind and heavy metal in the world. And, because Geldbach was
raised on not only punk rock, he was also an extremely avid fan of extreme
music. The creation of this new label was a must. Since it’s start,
This Dark Reign has recorded and released records by some all ready
legendary artists like, Today Is The Day, Cable and Thulsa Doom. While
Geldbach’s peers are attempting to continue down that sad road
of pseudo punk rock, This Dark Reign will usher in a new millennium
of success and notoriety associated with all of Geldbach’s enterprises.
With
a roster that is continually growing and now the expansion into distribution
and a giant online mail-order catalog, Devil Doll is truly becoming
the new epicenter for alternative and independent music. A company that
can be trusted by its fans release after release and sale after sale.
It’s with this progressive-mindedness that has brought such artists
to its home as The Hookers, Today Is The Day, Lambs, Insense and many
others. It’s also this reason that Devil Doll is outlasting its
competitors and creating a higher awareness for itself.
The
past five years has been turbulent from time to time, but not too many
people can actually get paid to do exactly what they want to be doing.
And, because the staff at Devil Doll Records truly enjoys themselves,
that sincerity drives the label to continue to release quality music
at an affordable price without sacrifice. Devil Doll and its subsidiaries
will continue to spread its disease to the masses and provide music
fans with the sustenance they desire in what makes this not only their
music of choice, but a lifestyle they deserve. Devil Doll Records is
neither punk rock or indie rock. We are however here to serve one thing
and one thing only... ourselves and our fans.
"
Indie rock or college rock as some call it is the perfect music for
these gutless times. Emasculated, self-effacing, yet ever-so-clever
'indie' is the soundtrack of the white guilt ridden college boy whose
constant yearning for pussy is forever at odds with his politically
correct sanctimoniousness. "
…
Loyal To Nothing
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